What could also benefit from this method would be the extended cast and universe around Spider-Man by the time his own reboot arrives in 2017. WHIH’s quest for photos of the web-slinger could introduce some healthy, journalistic competition and bring a certain Daily Bugle to the fore as they seek to be the first source to get hold of decent footage. This would nicely bring J. Jonah Jameson into the fray for the latest retelling of Peter Parker’s formative years, something that was sorely missing from Amazing Spider-Man.
This type of viral build-up could benefit not only Peter’s integration into the MCU, but also serve as a way of pushing the action forward in his own movies down the line. While Marc Webb’s Spidey work did approach the origin from another angle, a lot of the criticism it received was based on a lack of early action and too much time being spent planning for future events. Pushing character introductions and early plot threads into pre-release exposure saves valuable screen time, and stops the new series from falling into the same pitfalls as its predecessor.
Speculative? Yes, but couldn’t the example set by Nolan’s treatment of Harvey Dent be evidence enough that these viral campaigns work? Assuming movie audiences can be given enough responsibility to take note of a few well-placed adverts and promos, viewers could find themselves feeling as though Spidey was never not a part of the MCU. Marvel are extending the courtesy to Scott Lang, so surely their favourite son deserves to be the next beneficiary of such smart marketing? Time will tell, true believers!
Tell us, what are your thoughts on this? Could Marvel be testing their viral chops on Ant Man with the intention of saving Civil War screen time and integrating Spidey quicker? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!
Published: Jul 8, 2015 12:16 pm